Biggest zucchini contest ahead

BERKELEY—Last year’s surprise hit for home gardeners returns again, as the Second Annual Northwest Denver Biggest Zucchini Contest, with the great vegetable weigh-in scheduled for Thursday, September 2, from 4pm to 7pm, at Parks and Gardens, 4309 West 44th Avenue (just east of Tennyson and the Oriental Theatre).

Once again, the event will raise funds for local schools. Participants pay an entry fee of $5 per zucchini, and specify which school they support. (The entire $5 goes to the schools.) The 2009 weigh-in, say the sponsors, gathered more than $300, which was distributed among Brown, Sandoval, Centennial, Edison and St. Catherine’s schools.

Anyone may enter, but there are some basic rules that must be followed: 1) The zucchini must be home-grown. 2) The zucchini shouldn’t have any holes or punctures on the skin. 3) Large clumps of dirt must be removed before the weigh-in.

Judging is conducted according to the age of the participating gardeners. This year, there will be four categories: budding horticulturists under 5; those aged 6 to 12; the 13 to 17 year-old crowd; then anyone else 18 and over.

Ribbons and cash awards will be awarded to the three biggest zucchinis in each age group; First Prize is $25, Second $10, and Third $5. If last year is any indicator, there will be a significant number of merit awards, dubbed “Zucchi Awards,” that will be given at the discretion of the judges.

“The main idea is to get kids interested in the idea of growing fresh produce at home,” says Heather Noyes, a principal in Parks and Gardens, the local landscape architecture firm which sponsors the event. “Of course, we have more mature gardeners who want to show off what they’ve done, too. So we try to make sure everybody has fun.”

Any tips for aspiring prize winners? “What makes a zucchini heavy is its water content,” says Noyes. “So we suggest gardeners wait until the day of the weigh-in to pick their zucchini, so it doesn’t dry out. And remember to protect your zucchini from squirrels and other hungry, local wildlife! Some netting over it while it’s growing can help.”

Winners and weights will be posted in the windows of Parks and Gardens for the week following the weigh-in. The zucchini, hopefully, will have moved on to meet a loaf pan, or maybe a little olive oil, garlic and fresh oregano.